Security and privacy concerns have driven Rory McIlroy out of Northern Ireland, our young Major champion has revealed.

Rory's now confirmed move to the United States golf tour has been linked to his new relationship with World No1 tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and the end of his relationship with long-term girlfriend Holly Sweeney. But now he has made clear his hopes of maintaining a low key life here have been dashed by overwhelming public and media attention.

“I can deal with people walking up in restaurants when you’re eating and wanting autographs and photographs and stuff like that. That’s fine, it’s not a big deal — it’s the stuff going on around my home that’s hard to accept.”